Homes of Hope

Well-known missionary Jim Elliot once said, “Wherever you are, be all there.”  Not everyone can travel thousands of miles to make a difference. But there is one place where we all can go. We all can go next door!

Beginning August 29, our church is going to be intentional in reaching out to those around us. Homes of Hope is more than an event. It’s about loving our neighbors in practical ways. It’s about each of us serving strong right next door.

Here’s how it will work. As summer draws to an end, begin praying with your family about five to ten homes in your community where you will be intentional about serving and sharing the love of Jesus. Make sure to stop by the display in the foyer to purchase your Homes of Hope kit. This will include a yard sign and the handouts to use for this five-week project.

Make a fresh batch of cookies. (They can be from a package just as long as they are tasty.) Take them to the neighbors you’ve selected and let them know that for the next five weeks, you will be focusing on the community. Use this opportunity to ask your neighbors for any prayer requests.

Everyone likes to get mail when it’s not a bill or junk. During this week, write a short personal note to each neighbor you met last week. Keep it light and personal — let them know how glad you were to speak with them, and let them know that you are praying for them. Encourage them that if they ever need anything, you are there to help. Also, take your family on a prayer walk through your community. Ask God to allow you to see your area as a mission field.

On your next trip to the supermarket, purchase enough 9-volt batteries for your neighbors. Choose an evening to personally hand these out to your neighbors. Tell them that if they are anything like you, they haven’t checked the battery in their fire alarm in a while. Use this as a chance to begin identifying needs that are specific in your neighborhood for a possible service project within your community.

This is the week to think big (or small). Find an opportunity to serve in your neighborhood. At this point, no one will know what will make a difference better than you. Maybe you could find a single mom or elderly couple in your community who you and your family could help with a chore. Or, perhaps there is a common outdoor space in your community that you and some neighbors could improve. Remember, this is a chance to get people involved and to show Christ’s love in a meaningful way.

Use pre-printed fliers to personally invite your neighbors to Community Impact Day events and the Day of Hope. No matter where you live, there will be an amazing event located near you that will show your neighbors that you are serious about serving them.  

These five mission-oriented weeks are leading to an incredible Sunday morning evangelistic event — A Day of Hope. We’re praying that by simply loving our neighbors in practical ways, we will continue to build on the amazing success of the ServeStrong movement. By God’s grace, we’ll see many people reached for Christ.